Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Volkswagen Touareg MPG

Unlike other fuel economy surveys, TrueDelta's Real-World Gas Mileage Survey includes questions about how and
where a car was driven. So you can get an idea of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Volkswagen Touareg's
where a car was driven. So you can get an idea of their
real-world MPG based on how and where you drive a car.

TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee Real Gas Mileage: Pros

Year

Comment

2014

You won't often see fuel economy among the reasons to buy a Jeep, and I wouldn't have it here without caveats in tow. EPA ratings of 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway aren't anything special for a five-passenger vehicle. But they are impressive for a true midsize SUV, especially one that weighs over 5,000 lbs. The gas V6 is rated 17/24 (four mpg lower on each), the similarly torquey V8 14/20. The Touareg TDI manages about the same, 20/29. The gas-powered LR4, even with a supercharged V6 taking the place of a V8: 14/19.
In suburban driving the trip computer typically reported averages from 18 to 21, similar to the even larger and heavier Mercedes-Benz GL350. On one run home from my son's school I managed just over 29, but this involved a lot of luck with traffic lights and a very light foot on the throttle. During a small amount of highway driving the trip computer averages were inexplicably no better than in town. Maybe the weather conditions weren't favorable, as I've never fallen so short of an EPA rating before.
Worth noting: diesel tends to cost at least as much as premium unleaded gas, and usually costs significantly more. So while mpg improves, fuel cost per mile doesn't improve as much, sometimes not nearly as much.
see full Jeep Grand Cherokee review

Jeep Grand Cherokee Real Gas Mileage: Cons

Year

Comment

2007

The #1 reason not to buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 could hardly be clearer: even with the engine cruising on only four cylinders, fuel economy is abysmal. The EPA ratings are 12 city, 18 highway (up from 12/16). The trip computer reported between 13 and 14 mpg in casual suburban driving. Go very easy on the gas, and it might crack 15. With a heavy foot, 10 (or worse) happens. (And one reader reports that the trip computer is highly optimistic, and that actual fuel economy is even lower.)
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Jeep Grand Cherokee

The MDS Hemi is outstanding. I can cruise at 80mph and knock down 19mpg....at the same time, passing and entering a highway is an easy process with the power available. The towing capabilities are a wonderful plus since I do tow occasionally.
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I am fortunate in that I work from home, and do not need my vehicle to commute to work. However, for a six month period I made a 40-mile round trip five days a week, and averaged 15MPG in mixed urban surface/Interstate driving. This is considerably better than the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4wd/4.7L V8 the truck replaced (13MPG), and I attribute the better performance to the MDS cylinder deactivation.
I have observed 22MPG over a 400 mile trip of combined Interstate and rural 2-lane highway travel with speeds ranging from 60-75 MPH. The truck was unloaded at the time and acceleration runs were gentle to maximize fuel economy. The return trip resulted in19MPG performance over the same route.
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Poor fuel economy was expected, so it's not a big complaint. Our V6 4x4 Grand Cherokee is rated at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. We get about 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Ourair suspension package came with full-time four wheel drive, which probably doesn't help fuel economy. I would like to get at least 20 mpg in the city, but perhaps I will shell out the additional $4500 for the diesel engine next time, or maybe there will eventually be a hybrid option.
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2014

4dr SUV 470-horsepower 6.4L V88-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Obviously, the fuel economy is poor. You'll have to compare the Jeep SRT with the German equivalents to figure out just how poor, but suffice to say, you'll be getting less than 12 MPG everywhere you go and buying Super Premium Unleaded on every fill.
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Its a SUV with a V8. If you need gas mileage numbers look elsewhere. If you need to tow stuff and get to work no matter what the roads are like, your gonna burn some gas.
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Fuel economy is abysmal. The 4.7L V-8 engine, only moderately powerful, is far thirstier than the much more powerful 5.7L Hemi option owing to the Hemi's cylinder deactivation. Real-world fuel economy in city driving is 11-13MPG. On longer trips it can occasionally see 20MPG if speeds are kept below 70MPH. The 4.7L drivetrain is a compromise between the V-6 and the Hemi versions in terms of cost, with the added capability of being able to operate on E-85 fuel when properly equipped. You will undoubtedly want to go with the Hemi version instead of the 4.7L if you can afford it, the benefits are more than just the extra power. If you are familiar with the performance of the 4.7L in the older WJ models, prepare to be disappointed by the performance in the 2005-2010 WK models: they weigh 600 pounds more, and you can definitely feel the difference.
Do not buy ANY Jeep Grand Cherokee if you are a budget-conscious big city commuter; you have to accept the fuel economy as the trade off for uncompromised traction in poor weather conditions. This machine has a "real" 4 wheel drive system: it's always on, it's always ready to step in when the going gets slippery, and provided the tires are good enough it will plow snow with its front bumper. A V-6 version only gets marginally better fuel economy but with a significant decrease in power. In truth, if you're worried about fuel economy, you should be looking at the car-based Jeep Compass or Patriot models, not the Grand Cherokee.
see full Jeep Grand Cherokee review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Volkswagen Touareg

Diesel makes the extra weight of an SUV tolerable. In 4 months of use I've been getting high teens around town and 29 cruising on the highway at 70-75. Slowing down to 60-65 puts mpg just over 30.
see full Volkswagen Touareg review

I do not have a heavy foot and the V6 gas version gets only about 19-21 on HWY at 60 MPH opposed to 24-27 with a X5. I drove 700 mi (interstate) and averaged only 19 @ 70 mph. Not good!
see full Volkswagen Touareg review